It's all very cohesive and attractively designed, with a special mention for the angled and tall air vents in the centre of the dash. Stylish stuff.

On the road

If outright performance isn't vital to you, the Impreza's a pretty cracking drive.

Its 115kW/196Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder still takes over ten seconds to hit 100kmh so it's by no means a quick thing, but sling it on a highway and it's a brilliant cruiser. Its chassis is also a bit of a revelation.

With the all-wheel-drive system too, it would be an excellent choice for safe motoring for those who often use unsealed roads.

This range-topping version also scores active torque vectoring (there to improve handling and response), so if there's any complaint it's that this chassis could handle a bit more power easily. It's really that good.

Letting the side down a bit is the Subaru CVT auto gearbox - no conventional auto or manual is available here. This single-speed CVT auto has had steps added to make it feel like a more natural transmission, and if you're gentle on the throttle it's a pretty good thing.

It becomes whiny and slow to keep up if you get heavier on the throttle though, and I noticed it felt a big sluggish around town at times, as if it were stuck in wet mud.

On the whole though, it's a safe, comfortable and cosseting car to live with.

The hatchback rather than sedan Impreza gives a better opening for loading luggage, but a boot space of 345-litres is a bit small (VW's Golf has 380-litres).

As a six-footer I was well accommodated in the back seats for head and leg room, so a couple of adults across the back or three kids would be suitable.

This new generation Impreza has addressed a problem Subaru has had in the past: a short service schedule. The new car now only needs serviced every 12,500km or 12 months, and capped pricing means you know it'll cost you a total of $1298 over the first three years.

Our week long test returned 7.3-litres/100km.

2017 Subaru Impreza 2.0i-S

Funky factor

The new Impreza design is best described as safe rather than ground-breaking, probably just how typical buyers like it.

In the metal it's a nice enough looking thing, and is at its best in this range-topping 2.0i-S guise with its larger 18-inch wheels and side skirts to boost the sportiness.

Other options

How important is all-wheel-drive to you? If it's integral then the Impreza is your only small car option at this price; you'd need to go small SUV shopping otherwise, and even then it's hard to find much below $30k.

Subaru's own XV small SUV (from $26,490) would be your best bet (but wait for the new one this year) if you want all-wheel-drive.